China’s top basketball comp may beckon for Hong Kong Bulls, in rarity for city
Bulls closer to being able to join Chinese Basketball Association’s highest tier, but need to find a suitable venue
Hong Kong Bulls have moved closer to being able to join the Chinese Basketball Association’s top-tier competition next year after the mainland’s governing body stepped up efforts to integrate the country’s leagues.
Rule changes confirmed on Tuesday have allowed the National Basketball League (NBL), the second tier, to switch its season from a summer start to begin in December, syncing with the top tier.
Aligning the seasons would ease a change of division for the likes of the Bulls, who were last year’s NBL champions and are about to contest this season’s finals.
Sources with knowledge of the development told the Post that playing in China’s top league – a rarity for a Hong Kong club in any sport – would be viable from the 2026-27 season.
“The CBA has been working on the integrated design of the professional leagues,” Bulls general manager Leo Sun Xinwei said on Wednesday. “To do that, you need to at least start the two leagues at the same time.